Premier League Weekend Preview
September 17th 2010 17:02
Link: twitter.com/mattsaltmer
This weekend brings the fifth round of fixtures in the new English Premier League season. As the table starts to take shape, the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have got off to flying starts, and it is now important for teams like Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City to now start picking up the wins, to stay in touch.
The weekend is kicked off at the Brittannia Stadium, as Stoke City take on West Ham. Hammers boss Avram Grant has been granted leave from this match to celebrate a Jewish holiday, but with or without the Israeli, I expect a Stoke victory. After the brilliant win against Aston Villa monday night, the Potters will now look to re-establish themselves as an unbeatable prospect at their own stadium, which has kept them up the last two years.
Saturday afternoon sees Aston Villa and Tottenham both at home, in games they'd expect to win. Villa face Bolton, and Spurs face Wolves, and these are the games those sides must win to really push for Champions League places this season. Harry Redknapp will be aware however that Wolves did the double over his team last season, and the Londoners will be desperate to avoid a continental hangover, after their Champions League debut in mid-week.
I expect Blackburn to pick up the points, as they welcome old boss Mark Hughes and his Fulham side to Ewood Park. Blackburn have looked good at home under Allardyce, and should have enough to win this one. West Brom face Birmingham in one of the less exciting matches of the weekend, while Everton will be favourites to beat Newcastle, after their impressive comeback draw with Manchester United last week. While I'd like to be opitimistic about the Magpies chances, who will be improved if Ben Arfa makes his first start, but a draw would be an amazing result.
The evening kick off sees Sunderland face Arsenal, looking to build on the victory they picked up in this fixture last season. Despite the Gunners hugely impressive start to the campaign, this will be a tough fixture, and I feel it could well end in a draw. This is certainly the type of match Arsenal will need to win if they are going to mount a serious title challenge this year.
The three matches on sunday are a little tastier. Manchester United take on Liverpool in the most mouth-watering clash of this weekend. Both teams have made stuttering starts to the season, but United have been picking up the points despite this. Roy Hodgson will be desperate for a win in this game to really kick start his time at Liverpool, but I expect they may leave empty handed.
Manchester City travel to Wigan, and Chelsea take on Blackpool, as both sides will expect 3 points. Given the free scoring nature of Chelsea in the opening weeks of the season, Blackpool fans may worry about what the result could be in this one, and would probably take a respectable defeat. Here are my predictions for all ten of this games this weekend;
Stoke 2 West Ham 0
Aston Villa 2 Bolton 0
Blackburn 1 Fulham 0
Everton 3 Newcastle 1
Tottenham 3 Wolves 0
West Brom 1 Birmingham 1
Sunderland 0 Arsenal 0
Manchester United 2 Liverpool 1
Wigan 1 Manchester City 3
Chelsea 4 Blackpool 0
| 89 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Rick Gillispie
NBA Loud
Champions League Watch
Films Rock
Racing Weekend
Baseball is Good
Golf Slate
Do you think Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham or Manchester United will have a let down after playing in Group Play this week?
Comment by Matt Saltmer
Procrasturbating
Best in Footy
English Premier League
Comment by Champions League Watch
NBA Loud
Champions League Watch
Films Rock
Racing Weekend
Baseball is Good
Golf Slate
I think out of all these games this week Man City needs it more than any other team.